Chinese Northern Wei Terracotta Mingqi Funerary Ox, 386-534 AD

A massive pottery pair of horses standing on all fours and striding with its right hoof forward. Extended snout ends in parted lips showing teeth beneath in a braying attitude. Low relief bridle on face and well defined eyes. Raised mane down back of the neck A fantastic example of the Wei dynasty horses. Large, exquisite walking Ferghana horses with great attention paid to anatomical detail were the choice of the wealthy. The horse was second only in importance to the dragon. It was supposed to possess magical powers which the early Chinese were eager to explore. It would be the horse that would carry the deceased to the next life and it would be the amount of horses that an individual owned that would guarantee his ongoing status in the hereafter. Thermoluminescence certificate from Madrid Labs included. In southern China, people turned to Daoism, and mingqi, as well as above-ground sculptures, became ever more infused with animal iconography and energized with dynamic lines. The north of China was eventually united by nomadic Tuoba invaders who founded the Northern Wei dynasty...

A delightful and rare Chinese painted high fired gray pottery model of a wooly camel, Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 535 AD), China, with TL test. The charming camel is portrayed stand...

Impressive Funeral Ensamble of 10 Terracotta Glazed Figures in green and caramel colors depicting a votive procession with a palanquin, his four carriers, a horse, a stableman, two musicians, and an offering carrier. This ensemble is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, and Certificate of Expertise by Jean-Yves Nathan - Specialist in Asian Arts for the CEDEA (The European Confederation of Art Experts). Burial figurines of graceful dancers, mystical beasts, and everyday objects reveal both how people in early China approached death and how they lived. Since people viewed the afterlife as an extension of worldly life, these figurines, called mingqi, sometimes referred as “spirit utensils” or “vessels of ghosts” disclose details of routine existence and provide insights into belief systems over a thousand-year period. The Ming dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China – then known as the Empire of the Great Ming – for 276 years (1368–1644 AD). Founded by Chu Yuan-chang, the rebel leader that was successful in removing the mongols from the throne. Chinese control was re-asserted in China and eastern Asia. Literature became more important, schools were created, and the justice system was reformed. The Ming dynasty is described by some as "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history,” was the last imperial dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese. The practice of burying ceramic objects with the deceased went into decline from the 10th to the 14th Century AD. There was a revival in placing miniature representations of glazed terracotta objects such a furniture, food offerings, horses, miniature statues...

Terracotta figurine depicting a standing court lady with hands folded in front of her chest, hair pinned up and pleated robe. Intact, with remains of original polychromy. Height:...

on fitted wooden base (base is included with this item); 3in(D) x 8in(W) x 9.5in(H) are the dimensions of the pottery piece only (not including the wooden base); provenance: collecti...

Antique Chinese painted pottery standing court lady, with original pigments remaining. Age: China, Northern Wei Dynasty, A.D. 386 - 535 Size: Height 19.5 C.M. / Width 4 C.M. / Depth...

Antique Chinese painted pottery standing court lady, with original pigments remaining. Age: China, Northern Wei Dynasty, A.D. 386 - 535 Size: Height 22.2 C.M. / Width 5.2 C.M. / Dep...

Antique Chinese painted pottery standing court lady, with original pigments remaining. Age: China, Northern Wei Dynasty, A.D. 386 - 535 Size: Height 20.4 C.M. / Width 5 C.M. / Depth...

Molded of earthenware, this petite sculpture is a type of centuries-old burial figurine known as míngqì. Such model figures were placed in tombs of individuals with high status to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. Meant to depict the pleasures of daily life, common burial figures...

Molded of earthenware, this petite sculpture is a type of centuries-old burial figurine known as míngqì. Such model figures were placed in tombs of individuals with high status to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. Meant to depict the pleasures of daily life, common burial figures...